Laser or no laser?

This is a discussion on Laser or no laser? within the Defensive Carry Guns forums, part of the Defensive Carry Discussions category; Originally Posted by steig
For $20, I would get the laser. if you don't like it, take it off.
For $20 bucks, it most likely ...

Only one I ever tried was one that came with a Sig P290rs that was button activated. I tried it for a while and decided it was not for me. That said I am now seriously considering a CT grip activated laser on my carry 642. Just seems a natural combo on a j frame that I rarely practice using the sights anyway except for some longer distance practice just for fun.
I think in a low light or even dark where the threat can be identified that could be very useful. Plus my eyes are not getting any younger.
It would be point shooting with an assist.

I was a big proponent of Crimson Trace lasers, and had them on ALL my carry guns. Took a low light pistol class with one on my LCP, and had the best scores in the class, even though every other student was running a duty-sized gun.

I had ArmaLaser and Lasermax in the past, and found the CT method of simply activating by gripping the gun normally to be the best.

However...I found that, over time while carrying, the laser would lose zero. I was able to replicate this issue on all of my lasers, by simply tapping the laser housing with my finger a few dozen times...and not all that hard, either. Extended range sessions would do the same thing - it took me a while to realize it, as I would shoot different brands of ammo and attributed the differences in POI/POA to the different ammo brands.

So, if you are going to run a laser, you MUST check your zero every day. I know that I wouldn't do that, so the lasers all went bye-bye.

Lasers do offer some advantages, as noted in this thread. However, they do require some training, and ongoing maintenance. You have to decide for yourself if they're worth it.

I was a big proponent of Crimson Trace lasers, and had them on ALL my carry guns. Took a low light pistol class with one on my LCP, and had the best scores in the class, even though every other student was running a duty-sized gun.

I had ArmaLaser and Lasermax in the past, and found the CT method of simply activating by gripping the gun normally to be the best.

However...I found that, over time while carrying, the laser would lose zero. I was able to replicate this issue on all of my lasers, by simply tapping the laser housing with my finger a few dozen times...and not all that hard, either. Extended range sessions would do the same thing - it took me a while to realize it, as I would shoot different brands of ammo and attributed the differences in POI/POA to the different ammo brands.

So, if you are going to run a laser, you MUST check your zero every day. I know that I wouldn't do that, so the lasers all went bye-bye.

Lasers do offer some advantages, as noted in this thread. However, they do require some training, and ongoing maintenance. You have to decide for yourself if they're worth it.

I have lasers on my P290RS and LCR. I tried to like them, but I have given up. No more for me. I took a class, "Advanced Low Light" and I thought the laser would give me an edge. It was more trouble than it was worth. The problems I had were:

There is a tendency to "chase the dot," slowing down your shooting without an increase in accuracy.

I shot better point shooting with no sights than with the laser. I shot best using the night sights with the laser off.

Even one shot indoors creates gunsmoke that makes the laser look like a light-saber. Very distracting. You don't usually see it at the range because the lights are up and exhaust fans are running. Turn those off and it's a whole other ballgame.

I thought I had it zero'ed but the zero was bad for the class. Also, the battery ran out halfway through the class and I had recently put in a new one. Like someone said, Murphy doesn't favor devices like that.

For low light, I want a click-on-click-off handheld flashlight and a tritium night front sight. If I wanted more, I'd go with a gun mounted light in addition to the handheld and perhaps a red dot sight.

I should have mentioned that one of the cardinal rules I've found is to not use the laser for every time I shoot. The tendency is to "chase the little red dot" and that is not a good thing. If I have good light, I use sights. Unless I'm in one of the special situations where the laser does what nothing else can do.

In my one time use, I only turned the laser on when I realized the actor was not paying any attention to me. In fact, at one point I had taken all the slack out of the G21 just before I decided to turn the laser on. The guy had about another 3 or 4 steps before I would have fired when he stopped.

Those of you with the CT laser grips. Do you leave the little switch on all the time? Or do you turn if off when not in use? It is a real problem turning that tiny switch on with it being on the underside of the grips on an LCR. Those CT LaserGrips had the tiny switch, and also the grip switch to actually turn the laser on when you gripped it.

None of my carry guns have a laser. I have a Taurus Judge with 3" chambers and a 3" barrel with Crimson Trace grips. It sets on my nightstand at night loaded with 3" Winchester PDX1 .410 shotgun shells.

I should have mentioned that one of the cardinal rules I've found is to not use the laser for every time I shoot. The tendency is to "chase the little red dot" and that is not a good thing. If I have good light, I use sights. Unless I'm in one of the special situations where the laser does what nothing else can do.

In my one time use, I only turned the laser on when I realized the actor was not paying any attention to me. In fact, at one point I had taken all the slack out of the G21 just before I decided to turn the laser on. The guy had about another 3 or 4 steps before I would have fired when he stopped.

Those of you with the CT laser grips. Do you leave the little switch on all the time? Or do you turn if off when not in use? It is a real problem turning that tiny switch on with it being on the underside of the grips on an LCR. Those CT LaserGrips had the tiny switch, and also the grip switch to actually turn the laser on when you gripped it.

I have CT lasergrips on one of my duty guns and most of my carry guns. I leave the power switch ON. Except when practicing. Then I purposely use irons only for a while. Then practice a bit with the Laser.

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I have never had a laser on a CCW firearm. I have fired handguns with them attached. If I were going to use one I believe it would be one that is activated by the grip, such as some of the ones by Crimson Trace.

My wife has the Crimson Trace LG-405 laser sight on her S&W 642. She leaves the switch on continuously. I believe that it slows her down shooting, but I can't argue with her accuracy with the little J frame.

Most people I know who have lasers spend too much time trying to get a perfect shot when practicing rather than getting a quick and accurate sight picture and firing. Since people tend to do as they train...I would stay away from lasers for most people.